Gatsby Hat with Free Pattern

September 20, 2012 by 5 Comments

Day 3 of Hat Week and I have a free pattern for you!

I wanted a Gatsby style hat, like Robert Redford wears in the movie (Side note: is anyone else sad that the Leonardo Dicaprio version release has been pushed back AGAIN?).

I was inspired by this tutorial  at about goodness, but her version is for a size 22 1/2″ head, and Bean’s is only 19 1/2″. So I took a good look at her construction and then drafted my own pattern. So, for your 19.5 inch (slightly loose fitting – so you could use it for a 20″ head as well) version, keep reading. And if you need a good adult version, go over and check out about goodness.

You’ll need:

  • Gatsby Hat Pattern (please note: licensed for personal use only. You may not use this to make items to sell. By downloading you agree to this license)
  • 1/4 yd main fabric
  • 1/4 yd lining fabric
  • 1/4 yd fusible interfacing
  • Tiny piece (6″x4″) of buckram – (stiffened fabric over in utility fabrics section)

First, print your pattern.

  1. Print all pages on standard paper.
  2. I’ve found printing works best if you open this pattern with Adobe Reader, which is free to download. You may have another program on your computer that reads PDFs, but it may not print the right size. I know, because when I try to print this off my Mac in Preview, I get very different sizes depending on lots of things. Trust me, save yourself the headache and use Adobe Reader.
  3. Make sure that “Auto Rotate and Center” is checked and that “Scaling” is NOT checked. These may be hidden in drop down boxes – make sure to find them!
  4. If you live outside of the US, print the pages to your standard paper size. The pattern lines may be shifted slightly but you should be able to match up the symbols and lines.
  5. There is a circle symbol on the pattern to help you match up pages. 
  6. To connect the pages, trim to the edge of the borders (there should be a gray border around each pattern piece) and tape the pages together at the circle symbol.  

Next, cut your pieces according to the instructions on the pattern pieces.

    Two of the pieces need to be placed on the fold. When you are done, you should have 4 main body pieces – the side band, the crown and two brims. Iron interfacing onto the back of one of the brims and the other two pieces. 

    Now lay the sideband piece on top of the crown – you may have noticed that these two pieces had dashed lines on them. The dashed lines are the sides that will be sewn together. It looks like this:

    Pin, starting at the center front , and lining up raw edges all the way around the dashed line sides. 


    Sew around this seam, then turn hat right side out. Note: all seam allowances are 1/4″. 

    It should look like this.


    Pinch the upside down V in the crown together, and sew, tapering off the edge when you get to the point of the V. 

    When finished, it should look like this

    It’s a good idea to try it on for fit at this point; if it’s too big you can take in the seam you just made a little more. 

    Now, sew the two brims together, right sides together, around the longer edge.


    Turn right side out and press.

    Insert the buckram into the brim. Buckram can have a tendency to catch the threads on your main fabric; be patient and it will be possible to work it into place. If you’re just doing a quickie project and don’t want to buy buckram (I had some around from The Man With the Yellow Hat) you could also use a couple layers of heavy interfacing to stiffen. 


    Pin the brim to the underside of the side band, matching the center front lines. Pin, then sew in place.


    Prepare the lining the same way as you did the main hat. With the lining inside out and the hat right side out, insert the hat into the lining. 


    Pin the edges together, matching seams. Leave space in the back (red arrow) unsewn to turn the hat right side out. Stitch.

    Turn the hat right side out. Push the raw edges to the inside 1/4″ and pin.

    Topstitch around the circumference of the hat, right next to the seam above the brim. This topstitching will close the opening at the back of the hat. 


    Put it on your cutie’s head, because you’re done!


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    Comments

    1. emersonfamily says:
      September 20, 2012 at 8:34 pm

      I just made your hat. Thanks so much for the tutorial. My son has almost the exact same head size. :) Unfortunately when I tried it on him it was huge! I used the same seam allowance of 1/4″ that you did. Any idea what I might have missed? Any suggestions on how to make a tuck at the back or something so that it will fit? Thanks!

      Reply
    2. Amber says:
      September 21, 2012 at 4:11 am

      I don’t know how you figured out how to make this.. it seems so complicated! You have got some skills. : )

      Thanks for stopping by my blog!

      Reply
    3. Jessica at Me Sew Crazy says:
      September 21, 2012 at 2:32 pm

      Do you know how many times I tried to figure out this pattern by myself over the years, I could never quite get it right! So happy you came up with it! Well done Melissa!

      Reply
    4. emersonfamily says:
      September 27, 2012 at 3:28 am

      here is a link to a picture of the hat I made: http://emersonfamily.wordpress.com/2012/09/27/frugal-things-i-did-last-week-6/

      Reply
    5. Mimi Wong says:
      January 15, 2013 at 7:55 pm

      I sewed 3 of this style using Novelty fabrics and fussy cuts it. Each time I adjusted the circumference size; adding 2 cm to accommodate growing head (fm 48cm actual fit without elastic band, 50cm & 52cm). The trick is to add a short length of elastic band at the back for better fit. My 6 mth old grandson could wear all the 3 sizes looking super cute.

      Reply

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